Colouring Books For Grown Ups

Have you ever picked up a child's colouring book and started to fill in the colours?  How do you feel? If you answered  peaceful, serene or tranquil then these books are for you. 

                              

The drawings are botanically correct and meticulous in detail.  The botanical names are given if you wish to look up the plant for colour information

                        

               

       

The two above have coloured plates as a guide.

                                   

This one appeals to me and I'm also planning to get one of roses.

I ran across these books when planning programmes for dementia patients. This group often retain childhood memories or skills. It can be used as a soothing activity or for a little more stimulation if conversation is added. Along the way I got hooked on them too. If I've had a bad day I find them a reliable de-stressor. In my case they also stimulate my creativity and I can return to a project full of new ideas. It is satisfying to create something beautiful especially if one hasn't been gifted with outstanding drawing skills.

The books are published by Dover Publications. There are numerous subjects to choose from, not just flowers. They have educational books too. The books are printed on recycled paper in the U.S. Most of the colouring books cost less than $5 each.

Linking with the Garden Book Review

New Pope In Town

Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio has chosen Francis as his papal name in honour of Saint Francis.

Pope John Paul II said that St. Francis' love and care for creation was a challenge and a reminder,

"not to behave like dissident predators where nature is concerned, but to assume responsibility for it, taking all care so that everything stays healthy and integrated, so as to offer a welcoming and friendly environment even to those who succeed us." 

Sound advice regardless of our spiritual preference.

St Francis is said to have received this message,“Francis, go, rebuild my house, which as you see is in ruins.” Could those words be any truer today? The path Pope Francis has chosen requires strength, courage, steadfastness and a nimble mind. My gift to him would be a garden. A place of  quiet, of manual labour, of fresh air, of birds and bugs and worms. Gardeners know the healing power of the garden.

I would suggest something smaller and more private than the Vatican gardens below.

Perhaps something with a little stone shed to store the tools and shelter from the rain

For the rest of us, the little people doing small things, we are the rear guard action. Slowly but steadily gaining ground.

Pretty Things

I thought I would give you a preview of some of the content I'll have in my new blog "A Gentle Plan".  One section is headed "Pretty Things". If you make and sell pretty things or know of a business near you practising in an ethical and socially responsible way please let me know.

Can  perfume be a tool for peace in war torn and strife ridden countries? 

Barb Stegemann thinks it can....

 Noble Rose of Afghanistan    

Barb was inspired to step up when her best friend was catastrophically wounded in Afghanistan. She wanted to support his mission of empowering local people. She found Abdullah Arsala, owner of a distillery in Jalalabad. He was trying to support his tribe by growing legal crops of orange blossom and rose, instead of the poppy crop which currently supplies 90% of the world’s heroin.

"It is my vision to one day produce half of the rose oil supply for all the world. 

This will help farmers in Afghanistan buy shoes and books for their children in a safe environment,

growing a legal crop that does not compromise our lives or dignity". 

Abdullah Arsala, Owner of Gulestan Essential Oils, Afghanistan

Barb purchased one cup of orange blossom oil, all she could afford, and created Afghanistan Orange Blossom perfume.

" It’s in our best interests not to be overwhelmed, but to just begin..." 

                                                                          Barb Stegemann

Two years later, with superb marketing skills and investment from people who believe in her goal, the company has purchased $100,000 of essential oil from Afghanistan and set up similar arrangements in Haiti and the Middle East. In addition to Orange Blossom, the line now comprises of  Middle East Peace, Noble Rose of Afghanistan, and Vetiver of Haiti

Visit The Seven Virtues website to read more on their goal 

“to encourage others to do trade with business people in ..... nations experiencing strife, as a part of the solution to building peace.”

Read about Barb's best friend, Captain Trevor Greene, here.

  

FYI The 7 Virtues are: Wonder, Moderation, Truth, Courage, Justice, Wisdom and Beauty

Devas?

A stirring of my blood, a whisper almost heard, a glimmer in radiant light.

Devas?

In Buddhism, Devas are described as non human, invisible to the eye, except for humans with extra sensory perception. Hindus portray them as benevolent supernatural beings. 11th century texts mention them. The New Age Movement calls them the spirutual forces behind nature. All I know is, in certain places, I feel as if something else is there. I think they are watching and waiting until we set aside our primitive ways. In other words, waiting for the human race to grow up. 

Two places I reliably feel their presence:

       

Overlooking the coulee from  the Saskatoon Farm

I go here to pick saskatoon berries in summer. A short walk from the fields is this viewpoint.  There are many spots like this across the prairies. I don't know why I get a hint of "something else" here.

Anywhere along the Norfolk Coast in England. Photo credit

I'm not the only one to be fascinated by the light along this stretch of coast. Artists rave about it.

Do you have places which make you strain to see and hear something just out of reach? Do your friends think you a little strange?

Trust?

A long time ago I knew of a garden surrounded by rose bushes. "To keep the neighbours out" said the owner proudly. Beauty used for all the wrong reasons, I thought.  

Musing aloud recently I spoke of my desire to make my next garden a place to draw people in. A place to wander into, no permission required. Grass paths leading from the road for the curious to follow.

"Are you mad?" "Stuff will be stolen" "Damaged" "People will take advantage" "Vagrants" "Liability" "Unsafe" "Gossip"

"It's about trust" I ventured.

"Oh, you're such a Pollyanna," groaned one friend.

Oh no, my dears. It is because I  could be described once thus

She has secrets & she trusts no one.

she's the perfect example of betrayal.

because everyone she trusted, broke her

- xanga

but grew to know this

If we really want to be full and generous in spirit, 

we have no choice but to trust at some level. 

-Rita Dove

The Honour System:

copyright  diane schuller 

The above photograph was generously donated by the lovely Diane Schuller who understands about trust and sharing and a lot of other things too. Read her post about the honour system here.

The Old Post Office

http://www.theoldpostoffice-wiltshire.co.uk/

The vicar and the publican might claim their establishments as the heart of the village but I say it was the post office. In a rural area the post office was where people met. Much news was exchanged verbally in addition to the mail. Posters on the wall announced auctions, socials, and lost dogs. Government notices reminded us of the rules for transporting livestock, hunting seasons and healthy living. Letters contained untold stories and postcards gave hints of an exotic world beyond our small home.

http://www.freedigitalphotos.net

Post offices being dear to heart I was saddened to hear of yet another one facing closure. This time in the hamlet of Rupert, Vermont. Fortunately the owner is a creative soul and has launched a plan to save her post office. Jane Davies, the owner is asking us to mail postcards to her, thus increasing the mail count on which the U.S. postal service bases its operational needs.

Post Office, Rupert, Vermont 

Read all about the project here The Postcard Project. 

The sending and receiving of mail is a pleasure that has dimmed in this age of hi tech gadgets. Two sites which have thoughtful posts on the joy of snail mail:

http://lettermo.com/

http://kateyestudio.com/liberate-your-art-postcard-swap

Spread some joy, send someone a postcard. It would be a beautiful thing to do.

Love Letters 2 Strangers

"There can always be room for more (love)."

"Its simply about appreciating and loving every person you encounter." 

                                                                                                                
The above quotes are by Ashley Green the founder of 

 Love Letters 2 Strangers. 

She was raised in a loving home and blessed with a mother given to writing loving notes.  Knowing how wonderful it felt to receive a note, Ashley began leaving them for people she met. The bus driver, coffee server, bank teller, people who looked sad and people who looked happy. She keeps small pieces of paper at the ready in her purse. Sometimes she leaves them randomly, in books, on shelves or benches.

The idea has really taken off and she even runs joy filled workshops  for people who struggle to come up with something appropriate to write. For those of us who can't make the workshops, she has a website full of ideas.

There is also feedback from people who have received the notes. Ashley is not out to make money, in fact she received a grant from Edmonton Awesome Foundation because, yes, they thought her idea was AWESOME.

This Valentines Day step up and leave a love letter for a stranger. It would be a beautiful thing to do.

Let me know what happens.      

A Map of Small Things

“They were maps that lived, maps that one could study, frown over, and add to; maps, in short, that really meant something.” ― Gerald Durrell

The British charity Common Ground promotes the linking of nature and the arts to bring attention to those things which are significant in a personal, local and cultural way but often receive little attention. One of the tools they use is the making of maps by local people. The maps record landscape, artifacts, gathering places and objects personally important to the mapmaker. In this way a collection of maps reveals the shape of a community.                                                                                                                               Made over time the maps become an accurate historical record of the area. When faced with planning decisions the maps become a vital tool in establishing what is important to the community. They trace changes in environment, architecture and social practises. They can identify when to take action and when to let change ensue.

What would be on your map?

A special tree

 St Anne's Park, Dublin courtesy william murphy

A gathering place

                                                                                                                                                                                  

Habitat for an endangered species                                                                                            

Spotted owl

What would be on mine?

A favourite walk

Dunwich Heath, Suffolk

A crinkle crankle wall in Garden Lane,Worlingham
                                                                 

I couldn't find one of garden lane but this is similar courtesy nick macneill 

The black mulberry tree behind the wall and the market garden beyond it

flower-black mulberry

 
The monkey puzzle tree in the garden of a mysterious old house        

                                                                 

Both trees are gone. The market garden is covered in a housing development. The mysterious house knocked down. What if maps had been drawn? What if the trees or garden were on them all? What if we knew the trees were important to everyone? Would the trees still be there?

Make a map. Knit it, paint it, take pictures, make a collage, sketch it, embroider it. It is a beautiful thing to do.

If you post about your map send me a link and I will gather them together in a later post.

The Daisy

 

There is a flower, a little flower 

With silver crest and golden eye, 

That welcomes every changing hour, 

And weathers every sky. 

                                                                              - James Montgomery, A Field Flower

Proudly introucing the official flower of  A Gentle Plan-the humble Daisy. What, you exclaim, isn't this the invasive little blighter spreading across my lawn each year? Oh yes, she does, and so beautifully too.

Buttercups have honeyed hearts,

Bees they love the clover,

But I love the daisies' dance

All the meadow over.

Blow, O blow, you happy winds,

Singing summer's praises,

Up the field and down the field

A-dancing with the daisies.

                                                                                              Majorie Pickthall

From Roman times the daisy has been used in the treatment of wounds and bruises. I would say the world is a little bruised, even wounded. What better badge to wear on our quest to heal the world, at least our little part of it?

Daisies indicate innocence, purity, and gentleness. The loss of innocence, especially for children, is a little bit of ugly I would like to push back gently.  

Daisies can also symbolize new beginnings.

Daisy chains represent the sun, the earth, and the circle of life.

Bella Perennis: Pretty Everlasting 

I need a logo which incorporates the name "A Gentle Plan" with a little pink tipped daisy or daisy chain. I'm working on it and my website designer is working on it. Would any of you like to give it a go? I'm creating this website out of love so any design would have to be offerred in the same spirit. (You would of course get all the usual credits and my undying thanks.).

Photo courtesy of CalPhoto-Luigi Rignanese